Cigar Syrup and Bacon Vodka? Yes Please!

In keeping with the theme of parties I wish I attended (Big Smoke, 13th International Habano Festival, NFL Pro Bowl Party), the subject of today’s blog is the Made With Love Mixology Competition that took place in Toronto on Monday Night. While the winner of the competition was Michelle Tham with her rum and coke, which was made with homemade Coca-Cola. This homemade brew was made with with a recipe that was recently leaked by This American Life earlier this year.

There were plenty of other stars at the competition, though, including bacon infused vodka and a cocktail made with cigar syrup, which is pretty much exactly what it sounds like, but better. The Montreal-based team behind this ingredient started with a $60 Cohiba Maduro #2, which was torn up and simmered down into simple syrup. The finished product was a cocktail that included white cranberry juice, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, basil, orange peel, and the aforementioned syrup.

I’d normally never advocate tearing up a cigar, especially a $60 Cuban cigar, but that cocktail sounds just plain awesome. According to the article in BlogTO that I got this story from, the syrup had the “richest, most fragrant-almost floral aroma.” Luke Champion, the author of the post, added that he’d put the syrup on everything if it didn’t involve tearing up a $60 cigar.

While I’m sure it took some serious skill to produce a homemade version of Coca-Cola, I think the cocktail with the cigar syrup should’ve gotten second place, or at least an honorable mention. The article didn’t mention any runners-up, but I can’t imagine there weren’t any. Anyway, that’s all for today’s installment of Parties I Wish I Went to: Toronto Edition. Maybe tonight I’ll get drunk, boil a cigar, and wake up tomorrow morning wondering where the hell that smell is coming from.